Recently, we have got some inquires for fuel filter testing according to ISO/TR 13353(1994) from the customers in China, they asked us to run test for them according to this standard.

ISO/TR 13353(1994) is an old test standard which has already been withdrew on August 29th of 2002. We explained that we have some more ACFTD available by IFTS and we can correlate from µm(c) to µm. That is the reason why we can work according to this old standard.

These Chinese customer told us their customers (the filter end users) ask them to use this standard to test the fuel filter.

This article introduces the upgrading of this testing standard for diesel fuel filters. Try to help filter users and filter manufacturers to understand the background of this testing standard.

ISO/TR 13353(1994) was founded by IFTS and accepted by BOSCH in 1994. It is in order to qualify the filtration efficiency and the retention capacity of fuel filters. This procedure is divided in two parts: a first one is dedicated with the determination of the initial filtration efficiency (singlepass circulation at 5 mg/L of ACFTD – expression of the filtration ratings in µm); The second one is dedicated with the determination of the retention capacity (multipass recirculation at 50 mg/L of ACFTD up to an increase of DP of 70 kPa).

Since 1999, the ACFTD no more available ; it has been replaced by ISO MTD and the calibration for the APC (automatic particle counter) has been upgraded: the ISO 4402(1991) has been revised by the ISO 11171(1999). About dust history, please read here.

ISO/TS 13353(2002) has been reviewed and is only dealing with the determination of the initial filtration efficiency (according to a BUGL of 5 mg/L of ISO MTD in a single pass way – expression of the filtration ratings in µm(c) ).

ISO 19438 (2003) has been standardised for determining both the filtration efficiency and the retention capacity with working in a multipass recirculation with a BUGL of 50 mg/L of ISO MTD and on line dilution concerning particle counting – expression of the filtration ratings in µm(c) ).

That is to say, nowadays, ISO/TR 13353 (1994) is no more available. Has been replaced by ISO 19438(2003).

Last round robin tests in 2004 have proven that the determination of the initial filtration efficiency is similar whatever using ISO/TS 13353 (2002) or ISO 19438 (2003). Normally, including BOSCH, the fuel filter users should make the specification with using ISO 19438 procedure.

All above standards’ upgrading, you could find records on the official ISO website. For example, you could find the revision information for ISO/TS 13353(2002) in below image, it revised ISO/TR 13353(1994) and has been revised by ISO 19438:

For more detailed historical background, we suggest you to refer to ISO/TR 16386(1999).